Penn State Conquers Yost Ice Arena Demons

Last year’s senior class went its entire Penn State career without a win at Yost Ice Arena. This year’s senior class made sure it wouldn’t follow the same fate.

Led by a 42-save performance from Peyton Jones, the Nittany Lions topped Michigan 3-1 for their first victory at Yost since Nov. 21, 2014, ending a nine-game losing streak on Wolverines ice.

Jones, who was pulled after the third goal in last night’s 4-1 loss, was at his best as the Nittany Lions were hanging onto a one-goal lead during the third period. The senior netminder stopped 19 shots during the final frame, highlighted by a diving glove save with in the closing minutes.

Jones needed to be sharp as the Nittany Lions were shut out for almost the entire final 40 minutes. Nate Sucese and Evan Barratt scored barely a minute apart in the first period, but Strauss Mann was strong in the opposing net, stopping 31 shots.

How It Happened

The Nittany Lions opened the scoring late in the first period. With the man advantage after a too many men on the ice call against the Wolverines, Nate Sucese ran a give-and-go with Denis Smirnov, as Sucese buried a one timer past Strauss Mann.

Shortly after, Evan Barratt doubled the Nittany Lions lead with under a minute to play in the period. After taking a feed from Alex Limoges, Barratt deked past Mann and slid a backhand shot home.

The Wolverines responded quickly in the middle frame. Just 29 seconds into the second period, Luke Morgan netted his second goal of the weekend after a defensive miscue from the Nittany Lions.

Both teams went scoreless through almost all of the remaining 40 minutes. Late in the third, Denis Smirnov sealed the game with an empty net goal.